Class Code 0034
Poultry Raising; Sheep, Hog Or Calf Farms
Class code 0034 covers on‑farm animal raising operations for poultry and for sheep, hogs, or calves. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium is $6.212 per $100 of payroll, which reflects the base expected claim cost for these high‑exposure agricultural activities. Understanding the specific tasks and hazards under this code helps California employers control losses and stay compliant.
What Class Code 0034 Covers
This classification applies to farms and ranches where the primary business is raising poultry (broilers, layers, pullets, hatchery brooding on the farm) and rearing sheep, hogs (sows, farrowing and finishing operations), or calves (calf ranches, veal, or replacement heifers) on the premises. Covered operations include daily animal care (feeding, watering, observation), birthing assistance (lambing, farrowing, calving), routine animal health tasks (vaccinations, injections, tag application), moving and loading animals for transport, egg collection and handling on the farm, and manure handling and housing maintenance. It does not include off‑farm processing, slaughterhouse work, or retail meat/egg packing plants, which are classified separately. Labor performed by employees whose primary payroll is for these on‑farm livestock and poultry tasks should be reported to this code.
Who It Applies To
- Commercial poultry farms (broilers, layers, pullet growers, on‑farm hatchery brooding)
- Hog operations (sow/finishing, farrowing crews, nursery workers)
- Sheep farms and shepherding operations including lambing crews
- Calf operations (calf ranches, veal, replacement heifer rearing)
- Full‑time and seasonal farmhands and animal caretakers
- Workers who handle manure systems, feed delivery, and barn maintenance tied to these animals
Common Job Duties
- Feeding, watering, and monitoring flock or herd health daily
- Assisting births (lambing, farrowing, calving) and neonatal care
- Administering vaccines, oral medications, and routine injections
- Collecting eggs, catching and crating poultry, and chick brooding
- Moving, sorting, loading and unloading animals for transport
- Cleaning barns, scrubbing feeders, pumping/managing manure and lagoon systems
- Operating tractors, feed mixers, conveyors, and barn ventilation equipment
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $6.212 Rate
The pure premium rate of $6.212 per $100 of payroll represents the base expected cost of workers' compensation losses for this class before insurer expenses and adjustments. To estimate an employer's premium, the pure premium is multiplied by reported payroll (per $100) and then adjusted by the insurer for experience modifiers, schedule ratings, state assessments, policy deductibles, and any PEO or carrier fees. Employers reduce their final premium through accurate classification, strong safety programs, timely claims management, and by lowering their experience modification rate over time.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
California employers engaged in livestock and poultry operations must implement an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and comply with Cal/OSHA standards including Heat Illness Prevention (Title 8 §3395), Hazard Communication for agrichemicals, and Respiratory Protection requirements where dust or ammonia exposures exist. Confined space entry procedures, training for zoonotic exposures and bloodborne or animal‑related hazards, and equipment lockout/tagout and machine guarding are common compliance focal points on farms. Regular training, written procedures, and documented hazard assessments are essential to meet Cal/OSHA expectations.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 0034
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in this class by centralizing workers' comp administration, delivering farm‑specific loss prevention programs (animal handling, manure pit protocols, birthing safety), and providing training and PPE procurement targeted to livestock risks. Key HR can also manage claims advocacy, return‑to‑work programs to limit indemnity exposure, and accurate payroll/classification reporting to control experience modifiers and overall premium.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does class code 0034 include processing or slaughterhouse work?
No. Class code 0034 covers on‑farm animal raising and husbandry activities. Slaughtering, meat packing, poultry processing, and off‑farm egg packing are separate classifications and require different reporting and safety programs.
If a worker repairs equipment and also handles animals, which code applies?
Classification follows the primary payroll exposure. If the employee spends most of their paid hours performing animal raising duties, code 0034 applies; if most time is spent on equipment repair or custom farm machinery work, those hours should be reported to the appropriate maintenance/repair class. Maintain time records to support payroll allocation.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp costs on a poultry, hog, sheep, or calf farm?
Implement a written IIPP, targeted animal‑handling training, vaccination and sick‑animal protocols, confined‑space and manure‑pit procedures, ergonomic aids for lifting, routine maintenance on equipment and ventilation, and an early return‑to‑work program. Partnering with a PEO for claims management, consolidated payroll reporting, and regular loss control audits accelerates improvement in the experience modifier and lowers premium over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 0034
- Classification
- Poultry Raising; Sheep, Hog Or Calf Farms
- Pure Premium Rate
- $6.212 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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